Apparatus for applying mold weights



J. H. HODES, JR., ET AL APPARATUS FQR APPLYING MOLD WEIGHTS July 19, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.- 25, 1947 f'. 4 James F/Zze/Z v4 W ,f I

Patented July 19, 1949 APPARATUS Fon APPISYING MOLD WEIGH'rs:

J ohn- Henry Hades, J r., and. .lames L.. Fizzell, Kansas City, Mo.

Application J anuaryZS, 1947,. Serial No. 723,870"

1 claim. 1

This invention relates to hydraulic loading apparatus and more particularly tov an hydraulic ram and its adaptation tol loading or weighting of molds or the like carried by a conveyor for handling casting molds in a foundry duringpouring and cooling of the castings.

Foundry operators have foundthat'by using conveyors and/or other mechanical equipment labor of the foundrymen is lessened considerably. Conveyors are used for moving completed molds to a pouring area butv weighting or loading of the molds during pouring isV usually done by hand because past attempts to perform the operation mechanically have` not been successful. In modern foundries a rollt type conveyor is usually arranged adjacent molding-l machi'nes on the molding floor of the foundry whereby the mjolder may ram up molds in flasks and after completion of said molds place same on the' conveyor for movement along the conveyor toward the pouring section of the foundry. Before metal is poured into the cavity of the molds it' is necessary that a weight be placed on the cope portionv thereof to prevent the cope from lifting from the drag or the drag vand cope being forced apart due to pressure of the metal in the molds and runners. The weight must be of suchsizve as to offset the lifting force otherwise' the casting will be' thicker than desired and have iins at the parting line of the mold. Since substantial pressure is required on the `molds there is con'- si'derable labor' involved in lifting weights and placingv same Von each mold and removingv same after the casting has cooled.

The principalI objects of the presentv invention are therefore to provide weightingapparatus associated withy a mold conveyor'for applicationA of weight to the molds thereon; to providefor hydraulically weighting a mod during the pouring thereof; to provide an hydraulic loading device in which the force applied thereby is-determined by di-Eerential. area-s of a plunger therein; to provide an' hydraulic loading device having a pressure seal? lo'etween the plunger andi cylinder thereof; to provide ari'hydraulicl loading dev-ice in which the'only contactwhetweerr'the plunger and the cylinder isv the' pressure seal therefor; to provide` resilient meansgt'or raising: the Weighting plunger when no` hydraulic pressure is applied to the device; `toA .provide adjustable mou-:citingV for aplurality of Weighting devices; for accommodating dinierent-.sized molds; tov provide for selectively activating the' weightv devices; to provid-e;y for holding'therweight devicesffin alignment; .andato .provide Van:hydraulic weighting de'- 2` vice' which is simple and economical to manufac ture', sturdy-in structure and efficient in opera--l tion in the presence of dust and sandf such as encountered in foundries.

In' accomplishing'these and other objects-of the present invention; we have provided improved details ofv structure', the preferredform' of which is' shown iny the" `accompanying drawings, where Fig. 11 isI a persective Viewy of' Yanhydraulic loading apparatus and mold conveyor embodying the featuresl of the presentinvention.

Fig'. 2 is a; transverse'sectional'. View through the mold conveyor, particularly illustrating the application Aof a weight to a mold'.

Fig.. 3 a longitudinal sectionai view through the hydraulic ramv ofthe hydraulicl loading ape paratus.

Fig'. 4 isa `transverse sectional view through the hydraulicI ram' on the' linev #-4, Fig; 3.v

Referring more` in detail` tothe drawings:

l designates' a: roll? type conveyor apparatus which may consist of a single conveyor, how'- ever, in the illustrated instance. the structurev is designed to carry a plurality of conveyors. arranged` in such' a. manner'toi add. to' the conven-y ience' `and eiciiency ofthe apparatus'. It is to be: understood; that.l various conveyor arrangements may be had, depending uponf the'layout. of the foundry in: which. the apparatus is to be used; The conveyor structure preferably consistsv of a framework 2 formed'. of structural members: secured together-to form a. rigidstructure by suitable means such as by welding. The framework pr'eferably consists of spaced'vertical posts 3 and. 4 or' suitableA height tocarry roll conveyors and hydraulic loading apparatus above said conveyors' as Iaterfdescribed.

The' posts 3 and 4 preferably are spaced laterallyl su'iciently to locate a roll type conveyor therebetween of a. size adapted tov carry flasks of the largest: size used on the molding iioor the conveyor is adapted to serve.. The upper ends of the posts 3.' and 4 are connected by cross members 5` tofform` a rigid lcentralI structure for the apparatus. Mounted on the posts' 3 andv ll:l and spaced "from the floor are transverse sills 6 secured to the posts 3 and 4 to form a rigid' con.- nection. adjacent the lower ends of said posts and to provide `conveyor supporting structure whereby conveyorsmounted thereon will be substantially thesame height as aV molding machine tabley which the conveyor is adapted to serve. The sills 61 :are-'provided with outwardly Vextendingportionsf ln-and i-'preferablysloped upwardly to provide a transverse slope to the conveyor mounted thereon. The outer ends of the portions 1 and 3 are supported by vertically arranged posts 3 and I0 respectively. Mounted on the transverse sills (i and the portions 1 and 3 are roll type conveyors I I, I2 and I3 respectively. Each of said conveyors consists of spaced channels I4 and I5 having substantially vertically arranged webs IB and outwardly extending upu per and lower iianges I1 and I8, spacing of each set of channels I4 and I5 being such as to provide for mounting of a plurality of rolls I9 between said channels, the rolls I9 having concentric trunnions and 2| suitably mounted in apertures 22 in the webs of said channels to rotatably mount the respective rolls.

In the described arrangement `of the roll type conveyors, the conveyors I2 and I3 are adapted to carry completed molds from a molding door and machines thereon to the pouring floor and after the molds have been poured they are carried by the respective conveyors to a shake-out floor where said molds are move-d over a shaker adapted to shake the sand out of the flask and away from the castings in the respective molds. The flasks are then placed on the conveyor I I for movement back to the molding floor. In order to support the molds on the rolls le of the conveyors I2 and I 3 and to prevent the molds from moving downwardly of the slope of said conveyors rail members 23 are placed on the upper flange I1 of the inner channel, said rails preferably consisting of an angle having an upwardly extending flange 24.

Secured to the posts 3 and 4 and the cross member 5, and extending inwardly between said posts, are plate members 25 having a plurality of vertically aligned apertures 26 therein for receiving fastening devices 21 adjustably supporting cross members 28 on the frame 2, The members 28 extend outwardly relative to the posts 3 and 4 and have their ends 29 secured to the inner faces of webs 30 of channels 3| and 32. The flanges of the channels 3 I and 32 are directed inwardly and the channels extend longitudinally of the conveyor apparatus to present flat faces of the webs 30 of said channels to the sides of the apparatus for mounting a plurality of hydraulic loading apparatus or rams 33 whereby the axes of the loading apparatus are substantially in a plane mid-perpendicular to the rolls I9 of the conveyors I2 and I3 and spaced on the channels substantially the length of the molds being carried on the conveyors.

The loading apparatus or rams preferably consist of tubular members 34 adapted to be secured to the channels 3I and 32 by means of U-bolts 35 and 35, the ends 31 of which extend through apertures 38 in the web of the channel for receiving nuts 39 on the threaded ends thereof, whereby tightening of the nuts 39 will draw the tubular member 34 into engagement with the fiat face of the channel to anchor said tube thereto. It is believed obvious that the tubular member may be adjusted vertically relative to the channels 3l and 32 by loosening of the U-bolts, sliding the tubular member therethrough and retightening the U-bolts.

The members 34 are preferably cylindrical and provided with bores 40, the upper ends of which are preferably closed by cap members 4I having internal threads 42 engaging external threads 43 on the upper ends of the members 34. The caps 4I are provided with threaded apertures 44 and threaded therein are coupling members 45 for se- .4 curing tubes 46 to said cap members 4I. Each of the tubes 43 is provided with valves 41 for controlling iiow of liquid therethrough, said tubes 45 preferably being secured to and having communi` cation with manifolds 48 mounted on and extending longitudinally of the apparatus on the outside of the posts 3 and 4. The connections between the tubes 46, the caps 43 and the manifolds 48 provide communication through the tubes with the bores 40 of the members 34, whereby flow of liquid to and from the bores 40 is controlled by the respective valves 41. The lower ends of the members 34 are preferably provided with external threads 5U adapted to be threadedly engaged in internal threads 5I of cap members 52 forming the bottom members of the hydraulic loading apparatus, The caps 52 are each provided with a bore 53 through which extends a plunger 54 into the respective bores 43. In order to provide seals for the bores 53 around the plungers 54, packing adapter rings 55 are sleeved over the plungers 54 and rest on the cap members 52, the upper surface of the adapter rings 55 preferably being provided with V-shaped grooves 56 adapted tc receive a plurality of packing elements 51 of such size that the outer edges of said elements engage the bore 4G and the inner edges engage the surface of the plungers 54. A ring 58 preferably rests in the V-shaped recess of the upper packing element and is adapted to be engaged by the lower end of a packing loading spring 53, the upper end of said spring bearing on a stop 60 secured to the wall of the member 34 in spaced relation to the packing ring 58 whereby the spring 59 applies pressure to said packing to seal the lower end of the hydraulic member.

Sleeved over the upper ends of the plungers 54 and having engagement with the stops Bil are springs 6I, the upper ends of 'which bear on the lower face of annular spring retainers 62 secured to the upper ends of the plungers as at 53. The retainer rings 62 do not have contact with the walls of the members 34 and any liquid in the bores 40 may pass freely around said retainers. The springs 6I should be of such strength as to lift any weight on the lower ends of the plungers` 54. With this arrangement hydraulic pressure applied to the bores 45 is applied both above and below the retainer rings 52 and the force applied to the plungers is the pressure multiplied by the differential area between the upper and lower faces of the retainers 62, or in other words substantially the cross sectional area of the plungers 54. The lower ends of the plungers 54 are provided with bosses 64 adapted to receive pins 55 extending through ears 55 of plates 51 to pivotally mount the plate on the lower ends of the respective plungers 54. The plates are preferably provided with cutout portions 68 adapted to align with a runner 63 of a conventional mold 1I).

When molds are moved along the conveyor to the pouring iioor of the foundry and the flask of each mold engages the adjacent flask, the spacing of the hydraulic rams substantially corresponds to the spacing of the molds. A master valve 1I may be opened to direct liquid under pressure through the manifold through the tubes 46 in which the valves 41 are opened and into the respective bores 40 of the hydraulic rams to apply pressure to the upper ends of the plungers 54 to force the plates 61' downwardly against the pressure of the springs 6 I, the plates being forced downwardly on the upper surface of the copes 12 of the mold and any misalignment between the mold and the plate 61 will be compensated by the pivoting of the plate on the pin 65. The pressure applied to the manifold and to the bores 40 will determine the force applied to the copes of the molds to hold the copes downwardly on the drags 13 during the pouring of the molds, thereby holding the parts of the molds together and preventing the pressure of the metal therein from forcing them apart or lifting the copes. After the metal in the molds has solidified, the master valve is opened to relieve the pressure on the manifold and permit the springs 6I to raise the plates 61 out of engagement with the cope of the respective molds. The molds may then be moved on the conveyor to the shakeout portion of the foundry.

In the illustrated instance the hydraulic devices are applied to a roll type conveyor for applying pressure to molds carried thereon, however, the hydraulic rams may be applied to other devices for example the plate 61 may be utilized as a base and the plunger and cylinder member 34 used as vertical extensible members for lifting devices or apparatus applied to the cylinder member 34, it being noted that the ram structure is such that the bore 40 does not require machining as the only sliding contact in the ram is between the plunger 54 and the packing member 51. In the structure as described the plates 61 and plungers 54 may be rotated in the cylinder structure. It is desirable to maintain the plate in alignment with the mold and prevent rotation whereby the cutout portion 68 will align with the runner 69 in the mold. Ears 14 are therefore preferably provided on the upper surface of the plate 61 and the ears of adjacent plates connected by means of bolts or the like 15. It is believed obvious that any adjacent plates may be connected together and the hydraulic ram therefor operated simultaneously.

The arrangement of the structure as described provides a flexibility of operation. By the manipulation of selective valves 41' only the selected rams will be operated by the opening of the master valve 1| the remaining rams and plates 61 remaining in their raised condition, thereby not interfering with the operators or pouring of the other molds.

If additional molds are moved down the conveyor to the molding floor after some of the plates have been applied to the molds in that area, the additional molds may be weighted by opening the valve 41 of the rams aligning with said molds to apply the weight to the copes thereof.

In using apparatus constructed and assembled as described, the member 28 is adjusted for vertical height to accommodate the size of molds being prepared on the molding oor serviced by the conveyor. After the proper height has been determined, the bolts 21 are applied to the openings 26 to secure the member 28 in selected position. It is possible that there will be a slight difference between the height of the molds carried on the conveyors I2 and I3 and such difference in height may be accommodated by adjusting the position of the hydraulic rams on the cross member 28, the position of the rams being adjusted by loosening the U-bolts 35 and 36, moving the member 34 vertically to the desired height, and refastening the Ll-bolts 35 and 36. As the molds are made, they are placed on the respective conveyors and moved therearound to the pouring floor. When it is desired to pour the molds selected valves 41 are opened and the master valve 1l opened to apply hydraulic pressure to the bores 40 of the respective hydraulic rams, forcing the plate 61 downwardly onto the cope of the mold thereunder. After the molds are poured, the master valve is operated to release pressure on the manifold and permit the springs 6I to raise the plates 61 away from the mold 10.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Apparatus for clamping complementary mold members against each other for the pouring operation including a support, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the support with the roller axes transversely of said support and spaced longitudinally thereof, said rollers being adapted to support a plurality of molds whereby each mold rests on a plurality of rollers, a frame on the support and extending upwardly therefrom, longitudinally spaced arms adjustably mounted on the frame and extending over the rollers in spaced relation thereto, a beam carried by the extending portions of said arms and arranged longitudinally of the support, a plurality of tubular members, U bolts for clamping said tubular members on the beam in longitudinally spaced relation, plungers operable in said tubular members and extending downwardly therefrom substantially perpendicularly of the rollers, means surrounding said plungers and engaging the tubular members for sealing the lower ends thereof, means closing the upper ends of said tubular members, a manifold on the frame, means including valves communicating said manifold with each of said tubular means, a fluid pressure supply line, means including a valve for connecting the manifold with the pressure line for controlling admission of fluid pressure thereto and to selected tubular means, pressure plates pivotally mounted on the lower ends of the plungers for applying pressure to molds on the rollers in response to downward movement of the plungers under fluid pressure from the pressure line, resilient means in the tubular members for effecting upward movement of the plungers upon release of pressure from the tubular members for removing pressure from the molds, and means spaced from the plunger for selectively connecting adjacent pressure plates together for maintaining relative alignment thereof.

JOHN HENRY HODES, JR. JAMES L. FIZZELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 483,458 Lefebvre Sept. 27,1892 997,306 Maclean July 11,1911

1,339,133 .Prince May 4,1920 2,068,835 Wurster Jan. 26, 1937 2,087,718 Bowman July 20,1937 2,088,123 Toman July 27, 1937 2,095,151 OConner Oct. 5, 1937 2,154,967 Wurster Apr. 18, 1939 2,186,019 Hagemeyer Jan. 9, 1940 2,338,153 Whittaker Jan. 4, 1944 

